Program Reviews

My absolute favorite part of the program was learning Arabic. Our Arabic teachers were wonderful and taught us so much, not only about the language and culture of our environment, but about life as well. I went in as a beginner, not even knowing the alphabet, but by the time the semester ended I was able to speak with other Moroccans and navigate a Moroccan city entirely on my own with my language skills. There are a million opportunities to practice it with the people around you as many who you interact with will not speak English. This immersion is a unique experience.

While we had three hours of Arabic class every day, it did not feel like too much because we were constantly changing activities and being asked to go out into the city and practice what we were learning. For example, when we were learning the alphabet, we took pictures of signs and tried to read them together in class. When we were delving deeper into vocabulary, we went to the national library to write about what we observed.

My experience abroad in Ecuador was by far the best part of my academic experience thus far. Applying our studies to experiences in different communities and landscapes in Ecuador helped me to draw a deeper emotional connection to my academics. For example, while learning about developmental paradigms in Ecuador, I had a rural homestay with a family who had been part of a movement against copper mining in the Intag cloud forest region of Ecuador. Over dinner, they would tell me detailed stories of the risks and rewards involved in trying to prevent exploitation and how they were creating a sustainable economy through art.
I also loved the ISP portion of this program. I volunteered with an organization called Uniendo Fuerzas Formamos Futuro (UFFF) on Isabela of the Galápagos which does holistic education programs (i.e., theater, dance, acrobatics) for kids and English classes for kids and adults on the island. I investigated how holistic education addresses real themes/problems in people's day to day lives, such as gender, the environment, and cultural practices.

Like anyone would be before going on a study abroad semester, I was nervous about what to expect, as everything would be very new to me. I was almost immediately reassured, because literally every aspect of this program was phenomenal. The professors and staff are literally the most wonderful, kind, smart people I've ever met. Furthermore, the education is outstanding, and you learn an incredible amount about Argentina, especially during the trips/excursions, which is very hands on, and you meet many very inspiring and kind people. Being able to see the country was incredible, it's very beautiful, and connecting it to the social organizations whose members you meet during the trips made the trips incredibly educational, and made the trips unforgettable. My homestay experience was incredible. My host mom was I think literally the kindest person I've ever met, and we became very close friends, and talked about everything together, and I love her so much haha. I also had the privilege of becoming close with her wonderful daughter, her daughter's partner, and their new baby! I miss them all every day a crazy amount. You'll also meet great friends, all of the students on the program were brilliant and kind, and we have kept in contact, and I am close friends with everyone. Lastly, Argentina is a BEAUTIFUL, incredible country, with so much history and wonderful people. People are incredibly warm. Buenos Aires is a beautiful city that functions very well with excellent transit, and it was amazing getting to explore it. If you're considering studying abroad in Argentina, you won't ever forget this program. And even if it sounds cliched, it'll change your life!

The professors in this program were incredible. They were so enthusiastic that it was contagious. They are so caring too and love what they do and are good at it! They also tailor things to the group of students they have e.g. spanish intensity and topcis of interest. The excursions were out of this world, places you've only dreamed of going/ have only seen on nature documentaries. Some examples are the galapagos, cloud forest, Yunguilla, Páramo, etc. I can't speak for eeveryone else, but my personal host family was so sweet and I had so much fun with them. Overall this program is rich in experience if that is what you are looking for. Forget sitting in the classroom every day in your typical mundane college experience. This is an experience that will change you, your perspectives, and you will never forget it.

I think the most enriching part of my experience was the home-stays. Each family I stayed with were so different from the other. It allowed me to learn most about the culture, food, atmosphere, and religions that make up Cape Town & the Eastern Cape. The families were so kind and made me feel very comfortable. I always hung out with them outside of my scheduled classes and they took me to places that my instructors didn't think to! I went to their friends houses and family parties. It allowed me to test out the X'hosa language in different settings. I also really enjoyed that all of the families were different ages. Some families had a lot of children and some home-stays were just one person. It allowed me to get a good grasp of what the different generations in South Africa were like. I miss the families a lot!

This was an absolutely brilliant experience. I learned more than I could have ever imagined. The program is extremely experiential, which allows you to learn in a completely new way. We studied Arabic and we would have different activities to do. One day, we were given money for taxis and told to go downtown on a scavenger hunt. We actually used what we learned. We also had our seminars, which were taught by different people each session. They ranged from diplomats, to academics, to business leaders. We learned from the best in Jordan. The internship at the end of the program was amazing. I interned with the Al-Quds Center for Political Studies, which is a Jordanian think-tank. I was able to experience Jordanian work culture whilst learning about regional politics. The entire program is amazing and is much more than a school program. It is certainly an experience.

My time spent in Jordan offered me cultural immersion, renewed perspectives on world issues and political systems. It provided me with networking in areas which I hope to work in the future and mentors who will encourage me as a pursue my passions. Studying in Jordan was rigorous because I was surrounded by things that were new to me constantly, the language, culture, food, and family life. These experiences and my participation in a way of life I had never experienced before opened my eyes to new perspectives I had on myself and my country. The academics gave me a close look at how international bodies like Save the Children, Unicef, WHO and UNRWA work or don't work well and why. It also led me to realize the magic that goes on in communities and that often, the greatest work is done on the smallest budget by local community members. Meeting with the president of Unicef, the Head of the Ministry of Water etc. are opportunities I would have never had if I stayed at my home institution.

SIT gave me the best experience possible. While this is not the program for those who would like to move more independently, I found that highly structured time followed by a month free for research was actually very beneficial to my experience. I was very impressed with the academic aspects, and the visits that we did taught me so much more about Argentina than I would've known had I just been visiting. I was consistently impressed by our coordinators, who devoted themselves to ensuring that the program was good and genuinely cared about us. They were attentive and thoughtful and always available. My homestay was a better experience than I had even anticipated, and I found that my host family taught me just as much about the materials we were learning as the professors did.

Overall, I would rate SIT Argentina: Social Movements and Human Rights very strongly. If you are looking for an in-depth, impactful experience that will truly teach you about both the country you're studying in and your own culture, I would recommend this program.

Going to Morocco was one of the best decisions I ever made. Every single day was an adventure, and SIT did an amazing job of giving us the tools to live and study in a new country, while also giving us the space to explore and learn on our own. The staff was friendly and helpful, the classes were challenging, and the set-up of the journalism program in particular was well-suited for what I wanted to get out of the program. Being able to pursue my own project in the ISPJ period was invaluable and instilled in me a new confidence in my journalistic ability. I would recommend this program to any aspiring journalists with the desire to practice on-the-ground reporting. I was able to improve my reporting skills, practice a new language and make international connections abroad.

My experience was unique in the sense that I got to see how closely related SA was to the United States. The field trips were so thought out and in my opinion beyond important. They really set the tone for the learning environment. I think it takes a specific type of person to enjoy this program. You need to be okay with having little to no structure. Going with the flow is what made the program shine for me. I loved just being engaged with the content we were learning and the people we were meeting. The homestays were an amazing experience that really allowed me to practice the language and engage with the community. I will forever cherish the great relationships I built abroad and recommend this program to anyone else who is willing to put in the work, step outside their comfort zone and learn a whole new culture.